Charles e



(No Model.)

.0. E. RICE & S.-F. BT'TINGER.

GAR FENDER.

N0. 574,344. Patented Dec. 29, 1896.

Inifamtors: 6. @c'

"m: noun mm: (:04 mml'rmv, Win70. a. c.

. Fig. 3 is a View in detail of the apron in section.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. RICE AND SAMUEL F. ETTINGER, OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-HALF TO ALLEN N. JOHNSON, TRUSTEE, OF SAME PLACE.

CAR-FENDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 574,344, dated December 29, 1896.

Application filed March 21, 1896.

T0 (tZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES E. RICE and SAMUEL F. ETTINGER, cit-izensof the United States, and residents of Little Rock, in the county of Pulaski and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Fenders and we do declare the following to beafull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of the invention and is a perspective view. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section, and

This invention has for its object the provision of a novel and efficient car-fender; and it consists in the novel construction and combination of the parts thereof, all substantially as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates the forward or platform portion of the car.

13 designates the fender-frame, which preferably consists of the parallel lower rods or bars 1), one of which is hinged or pivoted to the front end of the car near each side, and which extends downward and forward to points considerably in advance of the car and a short distance above the level of the trackway; also, of the upper parallel rods 0, one at each side, which extend obliquely forward and downward to the free-end portions of the rods 19, to which they are connected or joined. The rods 0 are connected to the car at their upper ends by means of stiff coiled springs C, which are preferably of sufficient strength to normally hold said frame and fender up out of contact with the track and track-bed. Each of said rods 0 is also preferably formed in two sections, united by a turnbuckle C by means of which the tension of its connecting-spring may be adjusted.

D D are two parallel rollers which are jour naled transversely between the rods 1), the roller D being at the extreme forward end of the frame, while the roller D is about mid-' Serial No 584,235. (No model.)

way of its length and is consequently considerably above roll D.

E is an endless apron which extends around and is carried by these rollers. This apron has preferablya roughened surface to enable it to more readily catch hold of an object struck, as the clothing of a person, and asuitable surface of this character may be provided by forming the body of the apron of leather or of strong fabric, with an upper covering of thin sheet metal upon which the roughened Surface is formed, as by punching numerous small holes or indentations therein from the under side outward. We do not, however, wish to limit ourselves to a roughened surface of any particular character, nor, in fact, to the use of a roughened surface at all, since we may use an endless apron of any suitable character.

J ournaled to the forward end portion of the frame, one upon each side, are two small wheels F, which are designed to run upon the track-rails when the fenderis lowered sufficiently to permit this. These wheels have cogs G on their inner faces, which mesh with similar cogs G on the lower roller D and by means of which the apron is moved. The upper portion or branch of the apron is in this manner, when the wheels F are in engagement with the track, moved upwardly and rearwardly.

H is a platform or basket to the rear of said apron and which may be formed of wire-netting, cordage, or any other suitable material. In the drawings we have shown lateral guards for the basket and apron; but these may be omitted.

\Vhen the forward end of the fender strikes and trips an object, the object is thrown onto the apron, and its weight brings the wheels F into engagement with the track-rails, causing said apron to revolve and carry the object back onto the platform or basket H. If preferred, however, these wheels may be kept in contact with the track all the time and the apron kept in constant motion. Instead of providing these wheels F with cogs for the purpose of driving the roller D it is obvious that said roller or the roller D may be driven by means of a suitable connection with one of the axles of the car.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A ear-fender having a pick-up consisting of an endless rear\\ardly-1noving apron having a body portion of strong fabric and an upper covering of sheet metal having numerous points or projections struck upwardly therefrom, and carrying and driving rollers for said apron, substantially as specified.

2. The ear-fender having the frame C0111- posed of the lower inclined rods 1) hinged or pivoted to the car, the upper inclined rods 0, whose lower forward ends are connected to the lower forward ends of the rods 1), said rods 0 being made in two sections adjustably CHAS. E. RICE. SAMUEL F. ET'JINGER. \Vitnesscs:

RUFUs II. MILLs, GEO. B. ALLIs. 

